Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-08-13
For THE HERALD.
EVERY MAN TO HIS OWN BUSINESS

The Knights of Labor saw fit TO notify Its
members and the public that their name was
being used without authority. and goods ad-
vertised under their prestige when 1t was not
so. This it had perfect, lawful right 10 do, as
matter of public information. without inter
fering with anybodys business but its own.
The Queen Street sheet trots out its old oppo-
sition grind -organ, and plays a worn-out tune
upon the public sympathy, IL runs down an
Order TO which 1t does not belong, is not con-
cerned in, and has no business with and with
whom the Order has nothing 10 do.
What has this sheet to do with the Knights
of Labor, more than with any other lawful
Order? Who made it the guardian of the Or
der's business? What is the law or the moral
right under which 1t interferes in other peo-
and individual rights of person or politics.
that 1t goes out of its way to oppose the Order
and prejudice the public against 1t; or is it a
last resort to get paltry legal fee for want OF
something more legitimate to do?
Whose individual business does the X. of l..
want to run? No ones; neither should any
by prestige not possessed! Money made by
false pretense is only equal to the man who
would uphold 1t under sham of equity, moral
What is LIBERTY /? Attending to your own
business! Who pays the full price of LIBERTY ?
Inose VINO earn an honest living by the sweat
OF their brow, and not blatant street-corner
would-be litigants after a penny-a-case re-
tanner, the price Oh hatred and revenge.
Not love OF law and liberty. no devil-a-care
Tor the interests of the public, prompted this
and past attacks and unjust criticisms upon
the knights OF Labor's business, but envy and
malign1ty because 1t is something that can
not be run by newspapers and politicians and
into which Arbitration is welcomed with open
arms while Litigation is repulsed with scorn.
Inc true friends of Labor would remove the
difficulties that beset the cause by righteous
means. while self-seeking men complicate
them by a litigatious attitude that gives them
pay for their services. The Knights of Labor
and the people stand together. The cause of
one is the cause of the other, whether Grang-
ers: Templars. Masons or oddfellows Demo
Graf or Republican, or any organization for
mutual benefit. civil or religious. They have
the same rights before the law under the same
government.
Jealousy and self-consuming rage makes
THESE Intermediates in everything that does
not consult a wOuld-be dictatorship, cry :. boy.
eota when there Is none; and see red hand
ca " anarchy stalking before their eyes when
IL Is only peaceful public after its own busi-
ness they see through the eyes of an enyious
imagination the secret business of an Order
whose doors will never close upon those who
would set watch to find out its officers 10
which the meanest pettifogger would refuse
10 stoop. 1t represents to lifted political as
plratlons political bugbearr that will never
mug mug lhelr fond deluslons at less than forty
Ieet range. And all for what: to set the peo-
PIE against something they do not like, though
~ IL none OF their concern. The knights of
LABOR i've open lives, have the same interests
their children, and can safely trust to the nnh
iie ior iairer treatment than they have receiy-
eu from an uncanny opposition, out of whose
y. way u Is only too willing to keep: attending
" Us own business; interfering with no mans
rights and prerogatiyes, and wanting no one
70 interfere with its privileges or prestige.
surely, we are asking nothing more than COM
mon Jnstice, that would not be refused the
are we begging favor of any man. but demand
lng our own, which is generously accorded bv
NJ. except this tender of everybody's business
Da' MS own. SIR KNIGHT OF FAIR-PLAY.